include(ExternalProject) set(dummyOutput [[ This is some dummy output with some long lines to ensure formatting is preserved Including lines with leading spaces And also blank lines ]]) ExternalProject_Add(FailsWithOutput SOURCE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR} CONFIGURE_COMMAND "" BUILD_COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E echo ${dummyOutput} COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E env # missing command, forces fail TEST_COMMAND "" INSTALL_COMMAND "" LOG_BUILD YES LOG_OUTPUT_ON_FAILURE YES LOG_MERGED_STDOUTERR YES USES_TERMINAL_BUILD YES )